The Winter Cup winter bonus fours finished their qualifying rounds last Friday 28th July 2023.
One day was postponed due to weather, and this coming Friday 4th August will now be finals day.
The women completed their qualifying on Friday and played one round of post-section knockout.
Unfortunately, Mairangi Bay Pearls played Mairangi Bay Dolphins in one of those knockout games.
The more fancied Pearls (Sheryl Wellington, Jan Gledhill, Colleen Rice and Theresa Rogers) were under pressure early on and were 11-1 down to the Dolphins (Jo Baxter, Glenda Rountree, Joy Watkinson and Rosemary Nicol).
The Dolphins were playing some excellent bowls but the more experienced Pearls started to edge back and a big shot by Sheryl moving the jack bought the teams level at 19 all with two ends to play.
The next end one bonus to the Dolphins but the Pearls ended up with a three, 23-20, one end to go.
Last end, the Dolphins did not play their best bowls and the Pearls ran out the winners.
Well done to the Pearls and an impressive effort by the Dolphins.
A great game to watch.
The Pearls will now play a round robin against the other three top sides this Friday starting at 9.30am at Browns Bay.
In the men’s the team of Barry McCrystal, Gordon Jenkins, Phill Chisolm and Allan Langley won all their games and have qualified for Fridays knockout finals.
Eight teams start in the quarter finals, again starting at 9.30am at Browns Bay.
Kevin Sturgeon’s team had four wins and two losses and finished 5th in their division and just missed out on qualifying for the finals.
Jim Price’s team had many changes from week one to week two and struggled to get a win.
A big thank you to Graham Ward who stepped in on Friday and bowled very well.
Finals this Friday at Browns Bay, Men and Women, 9.30am start.
This coming Sunday 6th August is the Stanaway Trophy being played at Manly.
This is a fours tournament for 1-8 year players, each team must have a minimum of two 1-5 players.
We have five teams entered so if you want something to do on Sunday, take a nice drive up to Manly to support our young bowlers.
Young in bowling terms that is!!!
The following Sunday 13th August we have the Latimer Cup at Browns Bay, the final of the three 1-8 fours Tournaments.
Again we have five teams entered. Five teams in these tournaments is an impressive turnout for our club so congrats to all those players who have entered these tournaments.
Again your support would be appreciated.
Good bowling to all our teams playing in the next few weeks.
Alan Daniels